Mail-box.



'1. J. DAGELEIN.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION II'LBDJUNE 29, 1910.

Patented Feb. 27', 1912 WI flu-6626i xv 1- rojwve ys.

FRANK J'. DAGELEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Application filed June 29, 1910. Serial No. 569,443.

To all whom it may concern Be it'known that I, FRANK J. DAGELEN, residing in Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mail boxes in which mail is deposited for collection by Governmental employees.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a mail box with a side door which may be opened for the removal of a small quantity of mail within the box and to also provide the box with a bottom door which may be opened to slide the mail within the box directly into the mail bag held therebeneath in case a large number of letters have been deposited.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mail box having a side and a bottom door with means constructed to permit the opening of the bottom door only after the side door has been opened and remains open and to prevent the closing of the side door until after the bottom door has been closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mail box having a side and a bottom door with means for unlatching the bottom door when the side door is open and also with means for locking the locking mechanism of the lower door when the side door is closed.

vVith the above, and other objects in view, the invention consists of the mail box and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box embodying the improvements, both doors being shown in open position; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the mail box with parts of the lining removed to show other parts in the rear thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 4: with the doors in open position, parts of the lining removed to show other parts in the rear thereof; Fig. l is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 8 indicates the mail box which is provided with the usual hinged upper door 9 for the insertion of letters. A door 10 hinged to the lower side edge of the box is provided with side flanges 11 and 12, respectively, which are positioned to slide within the side opening 13 and close to the front and rear portions of the box. The side flange 11 of the side door is provided with a stop lug 14 which engages the inner wall of the box and serves as a stop to limit the outward movement of the door. The door is provided with the usual locking means 15 which may be an outside look as shown or the lock may be what is known as an inside lock.

A lining 16 within the box and spaced a slight distance from the inner surface thereof covers the mechanism and serves to prevent the letters deposited in the box from coming in contact with said mechanism.

A bottom door 17 hinged to the lower edge of the rear wall of the box is adapted to swing downwardly in opening and when in full open position the door inclines forwardly toward the front of the box to guide the mail in this direction. The end of the lower door farthest removed from the side door is provided with an upturned flange 18 curved on its forward edge concentrically with relation to the hinge joint for a portion of its length and then extending at a tangent as indicated by the numeral .19 to limit the downward opening of the door. The end of the lower door nearest to the side door is bentupwardly at right angles to form an end flange 20 which is adapted to enter the space formed by the bent over lower side edge piece 21 to which the side door is hinged.

A horizontal locking bar 22 pivoted to the front portion of the box by a bolt 23 carries a hook 241: to engage the eyed member 25 extending upwardly from the front edge of the lower door to lock said door closed. The end of the horizontal locking bar adjacent to the side door is bent rearwardly at right angles to form a convenient handle 26 to unlock the lower door when the side door is in open position and to also serve as a means to prevent the side door being closed before the bottom door has been closed and to lock the bolt 24 against movement when the side door is in closed position. 7

To accomplish the results just described the side flange 12 is of sufficient hei ht to just pass beneath the bent portion 26 of the horizontal locking bar when both doors are closed. When the horizontal locking bar has been pushed downwardly to swing the depending hook 24 out of engagement with the eyed member of the lower door, the bent portion 26 of the locking bar will be in the path of movement of the side door flange 12 and prevent the closing of said door while the bar remains in unlocked position.

The horizontal locking bar 22 carries a hook shaped locking dog 27 pivoted thereto and depending therefrom at an angle which is adapted to push the lower door open when the bar is depressed and to hook under a spacing bolt 28 which holds the dog and the bar to which it is connected in their lowermost positions until the dog is disengaged from the spacing bolt 28 by closing the lower door In closing the lower door the lower end of the dog will be engaged by the said door and pushed upwardly with the horizontal locking bar. The locking dog in moving upwardly will engage and slide' against the spacing bolt 29 which will limit the arc of movement of said dog The end of the horizontal bar 22 opposite to the side door has connected thereto a vertically positioned plate 30 which serves to counterbalance the opposite end of the bar. The lining is spaced from the walls of the box by the bolts 28 and 29 and a block 31.

In use the letter carrier opens the side door to remove the mail and if only a small quantity of mail is within the box, it is removed through this opening, if, however, a large quantity of mail is within the box, the mail sack is placed beneath the box and the horizontal bar is depressed. This movement will unlock the lower door, the dog will force the said lower door open and the mail will slide into the mail bag. Vhen the mail has been removed the lower door is swung closed, which movement will swing the horizontal locking bar into locking position and the hooked end of the depending bolt into the upstanding eyed member. The side door can now be closed and locked in the ordinary manner. If the letter carrier should neglect to close the lower door, it will be impossible to close the side door and he will be reminded of the fact. Then both doors are closed, the lower door is securely locked and cannot be opened until the side door has first been opened.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a mail box is provided which is very simple in construction and the mail may be easily and conveniently removed therefrom.

What I claim as my invention is: l. A mail box, comprising a box provided with an opening for the insertion of mail therein and with a side and a bottom opening for the removal of mail therefrom, a door covering the side opening, a door covering the bottom opening, a bar pivoted to the box and having a locking bolt depending therefrom and positioned to lock the bottom door, a dog pivotally connected to the bar and positioned to lock the bar in its lowermost position while the bottom door is in open position, and a flange provided on the side door and positioned to engage the bar when the bar is in its lowermost position.

2. A mail box, comprising a box provided with an opening for the insertion of mail therein and with a side and a bottom opening for the removal of mail therefrom, a door covering the side opening, a door covering the bottom opening, a bar pivoted to the box and having a locking bolt depending therefrom and positioned to lock the bottom door, a dog pivotally connected to the bar and positioned to lock the bar in its lowermost position while the bottom door is in open position, and a flange provided on the side door and positioned to engage the bar when the bar is in its lowermost position, the said flange being also positioned to engage and lock the bar against movement when said bar is in its uppermost position.

3. A mail box, comprising a box provided with an opening for the insertion of mail therein and with a side and a bottom opening for the removal of mail therefrom, a door covering the side opening and hinged to the lower portion of said box, a lining positioned within the box and spaced a distance from the side walls of said box, a flange connected to said door and extending between the lining and one of the said walls of the box and constructed to limit the outward movement of said door, a door covering the bottom opening and provided with an eyed member and with a flange extending between the lining and one of the side walls of the box and constructed to limit the downward movement of the bottom door, a bar pivoted to the box and positioned between the lining and one of the walls of the box, said bar having a locking bolt depending therefrom and positioned to engage the eyed member of the bottom door, bolts extending inwardly from one of the side walls of the box, a dog pivotally connected to the bar and positioned to engageone of the bolts when the bar has been swung downwardly to its lower position and to be disengaged from the bolt by the movement of the bottom door toward its closing position, and a flange provided on the side door and extending between the In testimony whereof, I aifix my signalining and one of the Walls of the box and ture in presence of two Witnesses.

positioned to engage the bar When the bar is in its lower position to prevent the closing of the side door and to also engage the bar FRANK DAGELEN' when the said bar is in its upper position to Witnesses: prevent movement of said bar When the LAURA A. KELLEY, side door is in closed position. 1 C. H. KEENEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

